Dispenser



March 14, 1939. WESSMAN DISPENSER Filed Feb. 20, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 14, 1939. E G w ss 2,150,306

DISPENSER Filed Feb. 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 14, 1939. E. G. WESSMAN DISPENSER Filed Feb. 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :hvu onto o few/2v G. MES/VIA lam-a March 14, 1939.

E. G. WESSMAN DISPENSER Filed Feb. 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [0 140W 5 MZSSMA/V Patented Mar. 14, 193' PATENT OFFICE Y msrnnssa Edwin G. Weasman, Eaton, Pa, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Dixie-Vortex Company,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 20, 1938, Serial No. 84.957

Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers and more particularly to a device of this character for dispensing receptacles or containers such as paper cups or the like and has for its principal object a construction and provision of means whereby the containers are receptacles being dispensed may be projected from the device in a plurality of different positions.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a dispenser having a plurality of magazines, each magazine receiving a stack of the receptacles or containers with the terminal receptacle or container projecting in position to be grasped by the user.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a dispenser having a plurality of magazines for receiving and dispensing receptacles or containers of different sizes, the disgo penser being of compact form permitting the same to be used in a relatively small space, the dispenser being of a formation adapting it to be positioned on a support so that the stacks of receptacles or containers are extending hori- 5 zontally with the terminal receptacles or containers projected forwardly, may be positioned on the support with the stacks extending vertically with the terminal containers or receptacles projected upwardly, or may be positioned on a sup- 30 port with the stacks vertically spaced with the terminal receptacles or containers projecting forwardly.

with the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my

35 invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts described in the following specification and claimsand while I have illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will 40 be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective of my dispenser positioned on the support with the receptacles or 45 containers spaced horizontally and the terminal receptacles or containers projecting forwardly.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective with the dispenser positioned on a support with the stacks of con- 50 tainers or receptacles extending vertically with the terminal receptacles or containers projecting upwardly.

Fig, 3 shows a perspective of my dispenser with the stacks of the receptacles or containers posi- 55 tioned to be vertically spaced with the terminal receptacles or containers projecting forwardly.

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the dispenser with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged section through one of the magazines with parts shown in elevation. 5

Fig. 6 shows an end view looking into one of the magazines with parts removed.

Fig. 7 shows an end view looking into a magazine, with parts shown in section on the line 'I| of Fig. 8, the parts being positioned in their nor- 10 mal position.

, Fig. 8 is a fragmental detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, on the line !l9 of Fig. 10, showing parts in position as a-15 receptacle or container is being removed.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail showing a top plan of 'one of the segmental members whichsupport the stack; and

Fig. 12 is a detail showing in side elevation the member illustrated in Fig. 11.

In Figs, 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I indicates a support upon which the dispenser indicated generally at A is adapted to be positioned, the support being in the form of a counter such as a sodawater counter, a shelf, table, or the like. The dispenser shown is made up of a plurality of units in the formof magazines 2, 3', 4 and 5 connected by means of the plates or strips 6. Each of the magazines includes a casing, one end of which is closed by a cap 'I while the opposite end is closed by a cap 8 having a dispensing opening 9 of the desired size. The caps are secured to the ends of the casings by means of screws ill or other fastenings which engage in screw-threaded openings in the brackets ll positioned interiorly of the casing adjacent opposite ends thereof. Certain of the screws l0 engage through openings in the strips or plates 6 40 for securing the strips or plates in position and at the same time connecting together the separate units or magazines.

A stack II, of receptacles or containers, shown in the drawings as paper cups, is positioned in 5 each of the magazines with the terminal receptacle or container of each stack projecting through a dispensing opening 9 in a position to be engaged and removed by the user. Each of the stacks is urged towards the dispensing opening 9 by a spring-pressed follower, the springs being shown at iii, the followers including a plate ll having a struck-out tongue or eye I5 to which one end of the spring 13 is connected, the opposite end of the spring bearing against the inner face of a cap I as is quite clearly illustrated in the drawings. Secured to the opposite face of each of the plates M, are the strips l8 and I! which are bent to form, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, a pro-v stacks will be urged, by its associated spring l3 to force the stack outwardly to position, as previously stated, the terminal receptacle or container through the dispensing opening 9 and in position to be grasped and removed by the user.

In order to resist the action of the springpressed followers and to prevent the stacks of containers or receptacles from being discharged from the dispensing openings in the magazines without what might be termed forceful withdrawal of the individual receptacles or containers I provide in each of the stacks or units a cylindrical resilient sleeve or member B through which the stack is adapted to extend and these sleeves or members B are made up of a plurality of curved segments l8 normally positioned as shown more particularly in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. Each of these segments is provided at what might be termed its inner end with an outwardly directed flange l9 and what might be termed the outer end with an outwardly directed flange 20,

flanges 20 being engaged beneath the inwardly directed flanges 2I the adjacent ends of these of the brackets 22, as shown more particularly in Figs. '7 and 9 of the drawings, these brackets beihg secured to the inner faces of the caps 8 by means of the screws, rivets or the like shown at 23. Surrounding the segments l8 and, holding them together incylindrical form, are the coiled springs 24 and 25, the coiled spring 24 being positioned inwardly of the flanges I 9 whereas the coiled spring 25 is positioned inwardly of the flanges 20. Each of the segments I 8 is formed on its inner face with the inwardly projecting lips 26 positioned on dififerent vertical planes and these inwardly directed lips are adapted to engage the outwardly directed mouth flanges 21 of the receptacles or containers 28 of the stacks I2. These lips 26 engaging the flanges of the receptacles or containers resist the action of the spring-pressed followers and hold the stacks in position with the terminal container or receptacle projecting through the dispensing opening 9 as quite clearly shown in the drawings. Rubber feet 29 may be secured to one face of each of the units or magazines 5, when desired, to prevent marring of the support I.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a dispenser made up of a plurality of units or containers and while in the drawings I have shown four such units or containers it will be understood that any number may be connected by the strips or plates 6. The use of the separate units or containers makes it possible for different size receptacles or containers to be dispensed from a single dispenser and this can be readily seen by reference to the drawings, more particularly Fig. 4 thereof. Of course, it will be understood that the cylinders or members B, through which the stacks pass, and in which the reportions 2| of the brackets 22.

magazines to accommodate the desired size container or receptacle. As has been stated the dispenser as a whole may be positioned on a support I in various manners such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and no matter in what position supported the center axis of the dispenser will extend through the stacks of receptacles or containers so that at no time will there be greater weight on one side than on the other. It will be appreciated that at soda fountains and the like it is desirable that little room be taken up with a dispenser of the character described and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings the dispenser may be laid flat, may be supported on end, or on a side. When supported as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the receptacles or containers may be withdrawn through the dispensing openings by a forward pull on the terminal receptacle or container. When the dispenser is positioned as shown in Fig. 2 the receptacles or containers may be withdrawn from the stacks, through the dispensing openings, by an upward pull on the terminal receptacle or container. The containers or receptacles are supported by the upper flanged portions 21 tainers being engaged with the lips 26 and normally the segments forming the cylinders or member B will be positioned as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. As a terminal receptacle or container is withdrawn the segments l8 will be swung as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 to permit the withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container past the lips or ridges 26 while the remaining portion of the stack will be supported on said lips or ridges. Preferably the parts of the dispenser, other than the cylinders or member B will be of metal and while the cylinders or member B might be likewise of metal they are preferably formed of Bakelite or similar material.

The stacks are urged forwardly or towards the dispensing openings 9 by the spring-pressed followers l4 and the movement of the followers will be limited by engagement with the upper ends of the cylinders or members B and when the follower is engaged with the end of the member B it forms a closure at the inner end of the member. When it is desired to position different sized receptacles or containers in the various magazines or compartments the'cylinders or members B may be interchanged by removing the closure caps 8, it being understod that the cylinder or container will be removed with its respective cap and can be disconnected therefrom by disengaging the flanges 20 from beneath the overhanging flange In the dispenser illustrated the receptacles or containers are not only adapted for withdrawing the terminal receptacles or containers from the stacks, but the stacks are replenished by pushing a stack of individual receptacles or containers through the dispensing openings into the separate compartments or magazines. Also as previously stated, any numberof separate units or compartments may be used for making up the complete dispenser. These units exteriorly are all of the same size but have the interchangeable cylinders or members B interiorly thereof adapting the separate units or compartments to different size cups. While in the drawings I have shown the units connected in a straight line it will be appreciated that they could be connected so that the units might be set one uponthe other or in various other manners. Further, if desired, instead of providing separate units or compartments a single casing-or housing may be formed claim as new and, desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

l. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a sectional cylindrical member positioned in the compartment for engaging the receptacles or containers, and a yieldable member normally holding the sections in cylindrical form but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from its stack by separation of the sections against action of the yieldable member.

2. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack oi receptacles or containers, a readily removable and interchangeable sectional cylindrical member positioned in the compartment for engaging the receptacles or containers, and a yieldable member normally holding the sections in cylindrical form but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from its stack by separation of the sections against action of the yieldable member.

3. A'dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a sectional cylindrical member supported in the compartment for engaging the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from its stack, and coiled springs surrounding the cylindrical member but permitting the sections thereof to separate as the receptacles or containers are removed from the stack.

4. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a sectional cylindrical member supported within the compartment for engaging the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack, outwardly directed flanges formed at opposite ends of each section, and coiled springs surrounding the cylindrical member inwardly of the flanges and permitting the sections of the member to separate as the receptacles or containers are withdrawn.

5. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a sectional cylindrical member positioned in the compartment for engaging the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack, yieldable means normally holding the sections in cylindrical form, a.-

flange formed on each section of the cylindrical member, and means engageablewith the flanges for connecting the cylindrical member in the compartment but permitting separation of the sections in the withdrawal of the receptacles or containers against action of the yieldable means.

6. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a sectional cylindrical member positioned in the compartment and adapted to engage the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack, yieldable means normally holding the sections in cylindrical forming flanges formed on the sections of the cylindrical member, and means engageable with the section flanges ior deiazchably connecting the cylindrical member within the compartment but permitting separation'of the sections in the withdrawal oi the receptacles or containers against action or the yieldable means.

7. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containerafa sectional cylindrical member positioned in the compartment and adapted to engage the receptacles or containers, yieldable means normally holding the sections in cylindrical form. but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack by separation oi! the sections against action oi. the yieldable means, and a spring-pressed follower for urging the stack to position relative to the cylindrical member, said follower engaging the end of the cylindrical member for closing the opening therethrough when the stack is depleted.

8. A dispenser of the character described including a magazine adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a removable end portion for the magazine having a dispensing opening therein, and a sectional cylindrical member carried by and removable with the end portion adapted to engage the receptacles or containers, yieldable means normally holding the sections in cylindrical form but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack through the dispensing opening by separation of the sections against action of the yieldable means. 9. A dispenser of the character described including a magazine adapted toreceive a stack of receptacles or containers, a removable closure for the magazine having a dispensing opening therein, a sectional cylindrical member adapted to engage the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack through the dispensing opening, yieldable means normally holding the sections in cylindrical form, a flange on each section of the cylindrical member, and means carried by the closure and engageable with the flange for connecting the cylindrical member to the closure but permitting separation of the section against action of the yieldable means. 10. A dispenser of the character, described including a magazine adapted to receive a stack of' receptacles or containers, a removable closure for the magazine having a dispensing opening therein, a sectional cylindrical member adapted to cluding a magazine adapted to receive a stack of.

receptacles or containers, a removable closure for the magazine having a dispensing opening therein, a sectional cylindrical member adapted to engage the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack through the dispensing opening, a flange formed at each end of each section of the cylindrical member, springs surrounding the cylindrical member, inwardly of the flanges of the sections thereof, permitting the sections to separate, and means engageable with one of the flanges of each section for detachably connecting the cylindrical member to the closure.

12. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, a sectional cylindrical member supported within the compartment for engaging the receptacles or containers but permitting withdrawal of the terminal receptacle or container from the stack, outwardly directed flanges formed at opposite ends of each section, and a yieldable member surrounding the sections between the flanges thereof to normallyhold the sections in cylindrical form but permitting the sections to separate as the receptacles or containers are withdrawn.

13. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, said compartment including an end portion having an opening therein, a sectional cylindrical member supported by the end portion, means for connecting the cylindrical member to the end portion, yieldable means normally holding the sections in cylindrical form but permitting movement of the sections relative to the end portion, said cylindrical member normally supporting the stack of receptacles or containers with the terminal receptacle or container projecting through the opening in the end portion but permitting withdrawal there- 01' by separation of the sections of the cylindrical member against action of the yieldable means.

14. A dispenser of the character described including a compartment adapted to receive a stack of receptacles or containers, said compartment including an end portion having an opening therein, a sectional cylindrical member supported by the end portion, each section having ancutwardly directed flange thereon, means engageable with 

